Tractor jack



Jan. 26, 1954 A. BLAAUW ETAL 2,667,329

TRACTOR JACK Filed Dec. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORJ Alva/95W aAuw ATTOP/ViKS Jan. 26, 1954 A. BLAAUW ETAL 2,667,329

TRACTOR JACK Filed Dec. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TE=E INVENTORS 34A/VflPA-W EZAAUW Ml? $21k .31

Patented Jan. 26,;1954

TRACTOR 'JAGK- Andrew Blaauw andQGeorgeW. Findley, Birming- .ham,Michnass'ignors to Dearborn Motors Core notation, Birmingham, MiclL, acorporation of Delaware- 1 Applicationfleoember 22, 1952, SerialNo.327.',330"

to whether the jack stand :is engaged with the tractor body adjacenttherear axleor at a point displaced substantially forwardly Iromthe rearaxle.

It is an object of this invention (to provide an improved frameconstruction for a jack of the type described in the abovementionedco-pending application characterized by therob'tainment of an unusualdegree of rigidity at a, most economical manufacturing cost.

The specific nature of thisinvention, as Well as other objects andadvantages thereof, wiIl-become apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theattached sheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred. example only,is i1- lustrated one embodimentof this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevational view of a tractor with a jack embodyingthis invention assembled thereto in the position producing elevation ofthe tractor front wheels;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 except that the jack is engagedwith the tractor in such manner as to produce elevation of the tractorrear wheels;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved jack construction embodying thisinvention;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the jack;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the jack; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged scale, sectional view taken on the plane 6-6 ofFigure 3.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a tractor Ill of well-known make.Tractor I 0 has a pair of rear wheels i I, one of which, however, isremoved for clarity of illustration and such wheels are respectivelyrotatably mounted on the ends of a rear axle housing I 2. A pair ofhitch links l3 are connected at laterally spaced points to the tractoraxle housing l2. A drawbar l8 having pinlike ends l8a is connectedbetween the ends of hitch links I3. 1 A pair-of rnck arms 15are-respectively secured tothe endsof. atransverse rock shaft [6journaledin. the upper-.por tiontofthedifferential housing I l oftractorwl 0. Rock shaft I 6 is rotated by a built-inhydraulic-mechanism- (not shown). The differentialhcusing terminates ina forwardly facing .endfiange Ha which is. connected to arearwardlyxfacing flange-Marci the tractor transmission housing. 2.0, by.a plurality of bolts 2|. The center of gravityCGpf the tractor isgenerally located-slightly:forwardly :of the joined flanges Haand:20a.-..and is disposed approximately onthe horizontal :centeriine ofthe tractor rear axle housing l2. The front. end of tractor It .issupported by apair of wheels '22 journaled on the ends-of afront axle23. All of the above described elements-of the. tractor 10 arewell-known and hence further-description thereof is not believed.necessary;

v The improved tractor-jack;.30 constructed in accordance withthis-inventionembodies an integrally formed U-shaped main-frame'memberhaving a horizontalgroundqengaging vbasaportion 39a and upwardlyextending arm portions 3% and 390 which are slightly. inclined. towardeach other, as best indicateduinFigur-e 4. On the top ends of armportions 30b and 30c-arcuate straps tied-and we are weldedthereto; suchstraps being shaped to confornrto laterally spaced points on thetractor'rear axlehousing l2. :TThe over-all height of arm portionsswb.and-- 300 are proportioned so as to be greater than. the verticalelevation of the tractorrearaxle-housing .12 above the ground.

A brace element 3! is provided which is of W- shaped configuration. Thetwo bottom vertex portions 3m and Slb of brace 3| are rigidly secured tobight portion 30a of the main frame, as by welding, and the free endportions 3 I c and 3i d of brace 3| are respectively welded to medialportions of arms 3% and 300. The top vertex portion 3| e of the W-shapedbrace 3| has an abutment element 32 welded thereto which mayconveniently comprise a short piece of tubing. The overall height of thevertex portion Me of brace 3| is selected so as to be greater than theheight of flange 28a above the ground and hence permits the abutment 32to engage the flange 20a at the bottom of the tractor transmissionhousing 20 when the main frame 30 is positioned relative to the tractorin a manner indicated in Figure 1.

A suitable force transmitting connection is provided from each end ofbight portion 30a of main frame 30 to the tractor hitch links l3. Suchforce transmitting connection may conveniently comprise a pair of links33 which have their one ends respectively welded to sleeves 34 which arejournaled on the outer ends of bight portion 30a. Suitable welding spots30f are provided on bight portion 300 to limit the inward axialdisplacement of the sleeves 34. At their outer ends, the links 33 areeach pivotally connected to a secondary link 35,'as by a pin 35a.

Pin 35a engages secondary link 35 at a point much closer to one end oflink 35 than the other end. Each link 35 is provided with end apertures35b and 350 to selectively receive the hitch pin l8a conventionallyprovided on the ends of the tractor drawbar IS. The secondary'link 35thus permits a substantial variation in the over-all length of the forcetransmitting connection between the jack frame 30 and tractor hitchlinks I3. A spring clip 36 may be provided to detachably secure thesecondary link 35 to primary link 33 in either of its two positions ofextension relative to the primary link 33.

In operation, theaforedescribed jack may be employed to selectivelyefiect the elevation of either the front wheels of the tractor It or therear wheels. In Figure l, the jack is shown in position relative to thetractor for elevating the front wheels. In such position, the main jackframe 30 is positioned beneath the tractor with the bight portion 30adisposed forwardly of the tractor center of gravity CG and with theabutment element 32 in engagement with the flange 20a at the bottom ofthe tractor transmission housing 20. Secondary links 35 are swung totheir fully extended position with respect to the primary links 33 andare effectively connected to the tractor hitch links by slipping thedrawbar pins 18a. through the end holes 350. Upon elevation of thetractor hitch links l3, through actuation of the tractor hydraulicmechanism, the main jack frame 30 will be rocked relative to the tractorand the front wheels of the tractor will be lifted as illustrated inFigure 1. It should be noted that in this position, the vertical armportions 33b and 30c of the main frame 30 extend along each side of thetractor transmission housing 20 and thus provide positive stops againstany lateral sway or displacement of the tractor while elevated.

To elevate the rear wheels of the tractor, the main frame 33 of the jackis shifted rearwardly relative to the tractor so that the arcuate straps33d and 30e of the main frame engage the tractor rear axle housing l2.In this position, the secondary links 35 are swung to their shortestposition with respect to the primary links 33 and are connected to thetractor drawbar pins I8a by the end hole 35b. Elevation of the tractorhitch links 13 will then produce elevation of the tractor rear wheelsuntil the abutment element 32 of the main frame 30 moves into engagementwith the underside of the differential housing l1. Thus,

additional support and bracing of the tractor inv its elevated positionare provided by the abutment element'32.

It should be noted that the inclined disposition of the arms 33b and 330coupled with the wshaped configuration of the brace element 32 providesa triangular bracing configuration for each element ofthe tractor jackwhich is subjected to the tractor weight, and thus provides utmostrigidity with a very economically manufacturable construction.

It will, of course,-be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claim.

We claim: 7 v

A tractor jack for selectively lifting the front or rear wheels of atractor of the type having ing bight portion, means on the ends of saidarm portions adapted for respectively engaging laterally spaced pointson the tractor rear axle housing in one longitudinal position of saidmain frame relative to the tractor, a W-shaped integral bracesymmetrically mounted on said ushaped main frame and having its bottomvertices rigidly secured to said bight portion and its free end portionsrespectively rigidly secured to medial portions of said arms, the uppervertex portion of said W-shaped brace being proportioned to engage thetractor body at a point substantially forwardly of said rear axlehousing when said main frame is placed in a second longitudinal positionrelative to the tractor, a pair of link elements respectively pivotallyconnected at one end to the lateral extremities of said bight portion,and means for respectively connecting said link elements to the tractorhitch links in either of said longitudinal positions of said main framerelative to the tractor.

ANDREW BLAAUW.

GEORGE W. FINDLEY.

